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BJP washes its hands of Varun affair

New Delhi Bureau

CDs were doctored, Varun tells EC

Varun Gandhi

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday practically washed its hands of the alleged inflammatory communal speeches of its Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency candidate Varun Gandhi, even as he responded to a notice of the Election Commission, claiming that the tapes of his speech were doctored.

On a day when the Delhi High Court granted anticipatory bail till March 27 to Mr. Gandhi – who feared arrest in a criminal case lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh under several Sections, including promoting enmity between different groups – the BJP, responded to the Election Commission’s notice, saying that even if the allegations against him were true, it (the party) should not be held accountable or responsible for anything that a party man may have said.

The BJP said it “completely disagrees, disassociates and disapproves” the contents of the alleged CD of Mr. Gandhi’s speech. Further, even if the contents were true, “the party cannot be vested with any responsibility” for what a party man may have said, for the views expressed “do not represent the views of the party or its policies.”

In his response, Mr. Gandhi made two points: One, that the CDs were doctored and two, that there was a conspiracy afoot to harm his political career by those who were opposed to him.

The BJP too referred to his claim that “the contents [of the CD] were morphed and some substitutions made to give a false impression about his speech.”

The Commission is expected to take up both the responses at a meeting on Saturday Mr. Gandhi’s petition in the Allahabad High Court, praying for quashing of the criminal case against him is scheduled to be heard on March 27.

CD sent to house

Separately, following up the criminal case against him, the Uttar Pradesh police sent to Mr. Gandhi’s residence a copy of the “offensive” CD.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar admitted that Mr. Gandhi is the party’s “official” and “declared candidate” for Pilibhit, a constituency held by his mother Maneka Gandhi in the 14th Lok Sabha.

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